is this just me or?

[Ming The Merciless]

The game says in the description "discover powerful perks that create game-changing synergies and unleash crazy combos" but i haven't really found any crazy powerful combos like a "this is 100% a win no matter what. i obliterate everything" type of build. i have had some really powerful builds but nothing very crazy like the description says. hopefully they add some more meta game progression other than the claws that can insure more consistent crazy builds. overall i still like the game and i know its in EA and cant wait to see what they will do in the future :)

[Aleema]

This kind of conversation is lose-lose. No matter how the game is balanced, people will complain about it. It sounds like you're missing a dopamine rush from feeling unstoppable. Identifying that need is an important first step to finding a game that does provide it, like Balatro or Vampire Survivors. I would say the game is most lacking in feedback than combos. If there was a building sound effect for how many items you get, for example, that would trigger a sense of reward when you do manage to pull off cool combos. There isn't much fanfare, which is what those others games have perfected.

[Ming The Merciless]

Originally posted by Aleema:

This kind of conversation is lose-lose. No matter how the game is balanced, people will complain about it. It sounds like you're missing a dopamine rush from feeling unstoppable. Identifying that need is an important first step to finding a game that does provide it, like Balatro or Vampire Survivors. I would say the game is most lacking in feedback than combos. If there was a building sound effect for how many items you get, for example, that would trigger a sense of reward when you do manage to pull off cool combos. There isn't much fanfare, which is what those others games have perfected.

Yeah, that's a good way of putting it. I do agree to a point with the dopamine rush, but I'd like to add that I don't dislike the game at all. I'm very much enjoying it. I also like games where you don't always feel unstoppable for example, Slay the Spire (at times, because I suck at it) and a lot of more strategy focused games. It was more the fact that, from the videos I had seen of the game and its description, it seemed easier to get those unstoppable type builds. But regardless, it's still a fun, enjoyable game.

[Moebius]

Crazy combo is 3x tentacle on Nightmare :D no items left after each turn

[Revolution]

I literally cannot win on normal difficulty on the first character. This game feels really bad so far.

[Scott]

Originally posted by Revolution:

I literally cannot win on normal difficulty on the first character. This game feels really bad so far.

I felt like that first hour or so, but after a bit of experimenting I found a few mechanics that can be stupid powerful if mastered.

My tip: try focusing on poison and/or dodge. Focusing on and stacking those two up makes the game MUCH easier.

Edit: looking at his profile bio he might just be a little slow

[Revolution]

3 hours later and not a single run over floor 10. This game is just awful balance right now.

[Lucifer]

I beat normal on three characters so far. Y’all need to calm the heck down. Just focus on what you desire. For example I played count crawcula and built a crazy strong life stealing dude. I the played with the janitor and had a tank that healed at the end of his turn.
Find your strategy. Make it your own. Win. Don’t go against your strategy by adding things that don’t match what your after.

[Ramirez]

Just saying but the pirate girl, the buff for the first item to be used again, and the perk for collecting a single item adds another use.

Build for spikes, the suit of armor, and upgraded pearl. You'll thank me later.

And if you do that on hard mode+ with her own trinket... double harpoons.

[Awesome Truck]

i dont know, i currently have a run going where i stacked the savings account buff (money after fights based on how much money you have) + extra hp for money you have + 3 golden knifes (damage for each money you have) and am literally one turning bosses with hundreds of damage all the while having nearly 1k hp myself

So the game certainly lets you break it with certain builds

[Kayse👀]

Definitely hard to find a synergistic inventory in the game, see a lot of 'little upgrades' instead of anything that screams 'build maker'.

[Pingu]

Originally posted by Revolution:

I literally cannot win on normal difficulty on the first character. This game feels really bad so far.

Originally posted by Kayse👀:

Definitely hard to find a synergistic inventory in the game, see a lot of 'little upgrades' instead of anything that screams 'build maker'.

I have to agree on the statements. While gameplay is fun, it's also frustrating. There is no real feel of progress. Leveling characters (like in Slay the Spire) that unlocks additional items over time would help a lot.

[phadin]

There are some interesting combos available, but you do need to get the right perks and items in your machine. You could go for a poison build, for example, if you manage to get the perk that lets poison from a defeated enemy transfer to all the other enemies, then load your machine with poison daggers, shurikans, and poison bombs.

I have only done two runs so far, won my second with the magnet character doing mostly iron items in the machine. I got alchemist ticket early so used that to get some non-metalic items to be metalic as well, like rings of strength. Also got the perk that increased range of magnets.

There is some RNG involved in getting the right perks and items for the build you want to run, so don't be afraid to use the reroll a few times if you need it.

[UAV hunter]

This is a roguelike game, if the RNG isn't providing the right perks / rewards it will be tough to get pass the first several floors. But with luck and strategy, this game is pretty easy to beat on normal for all characters. I myself only have 1 last character to beat on normal, chief bunner. Having the requirement of succeeding higher levels require at least 2 perks of retaining block, a brass knuckle or 2, and item shrinking. The chance of having all these is quite rare. But without it I was still able to cheese my way to floor 18.

As for the guy can't get pass floor 10 with Bunalot, maybe pay attention to what the enemies will be doing after your turn as that would allow you to come up with a strategy. And hope the first couple post battle reward boost strength, or provide dodge.

[scaremenow]

Originally posted by Ming The Merciless:

The game says in the description "discover powerful perks that create game-changing synergies and unleash crazy combos" but i haven't really found any crazy powerful combos like a "this is 100% a win no matter what. i obliterate everything" type of build. i have had some really powerful builds but nothing very crazy like the description says. hopefully they add some more meta game progression other than the claws that can insure more consistent crazy builds. overall i still like the game and i know its in EA and cant wait to see what they will do in the future :)

From experience, the most powerful build there is, which is very hard to counter, is the money build. Only use Golden Dagger, get perks that gives you +10% coins per combat, eventually your golden daggers will deal massive damage. For your HP, take the perk that gives you HP for each coin that you have, your HP pool will eventually be so large that you won't die, while also 1-shotting most enemies, sometimes bosses. Be careful, as enemies that can reflect the damage might easily kill you.

[ecchikitty]

I do agree the starting character is surprisingly difficult to get going. I finished a run with about half the other characters before good a good mix with him. Couple armor and a helmet, credit card, couple strength boosts.